Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-07
LANGSTON'S TRIAL.
MORE DOCTORS on HE WITNESS.
STAND.
Tho First Operation Of the Kind Performed
In Petersburg-Arrsngements
About Puryenf's Body.

ICorrcspondsnce OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
PETERSBURG, VA, August G, 1887.
DR.. $. w. Budd concluded his testi-
mony in the Langston murder case last
night, having been on the witness
stand the entire day. The Doctor made
all his statements in calm, clear man
ner, 80 that there could be no misun-
Outstanding about them. He traversed
much of the. field covered by the pre-
yious medical witnesses, and in general
agreed with the testimony they gave.
He expressed the opinion, in answer to
the concluding questions by the prose-
cution, that Ruflin's death was undoubt-
edly caused by the wounds inflicted by
Langston's bullet that two of these
wounds were necessarily fatal, and the
third extremely dangerous.
Two more physicians were placed on
the stand to-day-viz., DIR. G. V.
Robinson, who held the pulse and
gagged the temperature of Rufiin's
body at the time of the operation, and
DIR. Martin, to whom was assigned the
charge of the antiseptics used on the
occasion. AS an expert, DR.. Robinson
stated that he was not devotee to the
antiseptic school OF physicians, but,
with the celebrated DR.. Tate, of Eng
land, believed in the virtues of water
as a cleansing agent. He approved OF
the operation of laparotomy performed
by Dir. Mcllwaine, and said it was
properly performed. His opinion was
that Rufiin's death was caused by the
bullet-wounds. DR.. Robinson said
that he had taken down the ante
morton statement of Rufin, made by
the latter under the solemn belief Of ap-
preaching death. The counsel for the de-
fence objected to the reception of this
statement as inadmissible rs evidence.
The jury were taken from the room
pending the brief discussion which en-
sued. The Court sustained tho objec-
ton and ruled out the statement. 1t
is understood that Ruffin's statement
of the shooting was corroborative of
that of the witnesses who saw it-viz.,
that as he was going up Halifax street
on the 4th of April he WAS followed
and hailed by Langston, who asked
him if he had taken his Oangston's)
pipe that he denied all knowledge OF
the pipe, saying Good knows, Lang
sion, | have not seen your pipe !;
that Langston said, "You are ID
liar" and Immediately shot.
DR.. Martin is still on the stand this
afternoon. He gave a full history OF
the antiseptic treatment of the opera
ration, and his examination assumed
quite wide range, His opinion, too,
was that death was caused by the
wounds.
Several more will testify next week,
and the probability is that the trial will
not be concluded for week or ten
days. 1t is furthermore understood
that a history of the case will be pre-
pared for publication in the medical
journals of the country.
This was the first operation OF lapl-
ratomy ever performed i'll Petersburg,
ard hence the great interest that has
arisen among the medical fraternity.
And tits may be stated as the reason
why so many Of the faculty have been
summoned to testify as witnesses.
OTHER NEWS.
Puryear, the condemned wife-mur-
derer, was visited to-day by Sheriff
Youngblood, of Prince George, and
by his father. 1t is said that arrange
ments wers made for the delivery of
the body after execution to the parents
of the young man, to be taken to Din
widdie for interment.
1t is learned that the apple crop in
this section is small this year, and that
in consequence there will not be as
much fruit brandy distilled as usual.
Mr.. Frederick rurnbull aud wife are
visiting relations in Brunswick county.
The sales of loose tobacco here tins
week aggregated about 100, 900 pounds
and the receipts of priced were about
400 hogsheads. ROBIN ADAIa.